"How has flipping changed your class time for the better?"[topic for the September 14 livechat]

Today is the Saturday after my first week of school. Overall, things went fairly well -- much better than last year when we started with a fire alarm at 8:10 on the very 1st day! The previous teachers and aides kept saying "Ooooh, that's a nice group of kids" and so far that seems to be true. I haven't yet had much "class time" that I can write about for this #flipblogs topic. I could recount past years' experiences that I've already blogged about .... but instead I will describe how flipping has already helped in these first few days.

I have specific goals for each September week:Week 1: learn their names (~85 students), get organized with supplies, firmly establish class routines [sign-out policy, how to enter the room, how I get your attention, etc.], introduce flipping as a conceptWeek 2: maintain class routines, teach them "how to watch videos", make some connections, introduce 'doing history'Week 3: ease into the content (daily life in pre-Revolution America), assign & assess first academic video lesson, Week 4: first attempts at academic discussion (religious differences then and now), more 'doing history', introduce the concept of historical thinking

For the first few days, these kids are basically jet-lagged. Many of them have not woken up this early for several weeks! I believe it is foolish to jump right into the curriculum. In November I have never thought, "We spent too much time establishing routines at the start of the year!" Instead I always wish I had spent more time on those systems, because we waste a couple minutes every period with inefficient activity and incessant reminders.Here is the most recent way that flipping helped me with class time. I think the classic syllabus review of grading categories, homework policies, quiz formats, etc. is a SOUL-KILLER in those early days. So I didn't do it: Last Sunday I recorded myself against my bedroom door [good acoustics & non-distracting background] with Office365 Mix talking about those syllabus items one at a time. For all the kids who really wanna know this stuff, they can follow the link on my school webpage. Click the swan below if you want to see that video:

NOTE: At the time I type this, that video has been played 22 times. I have 86 students. That means 64 of them don't really care for that information.

By flipping the syllabus talk, I could better spend class time on things like:

an interactive classroom tour to point out relevant items (like where to find tissues!)

setting up class binders with me (not as homework, when it never gets done correctly)

practice to enter the classroom (2 or 3 times per period) so we always do it right!

a thoughtful exploration of how teachers teach and why (to introduce flipping) using the document linked below:

Yes! I do the student video and the ones who watch are generally thankful.

Reply

Leave a Reply.

Who is this flipping guy?!

Andrew Swan just finished year 18 of teaching middle school (currently 8th-grade US History/Govt in a Boston suburb). Previously he has taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade English, ancient history, & geography in Maine and in Massachusetts. This was Andrew's 5th year of flipping all direct instruction, so we have more class time for simulations, deep discussions, analyzing primary sources ... and also to promote mastery for students at all levels. His 8th-grade daughter, 10th-grade son, and wonderful wife all indulge Andrew's blogging, tweeting, & other behaviors. These include co-moderating the #sschat Twitter sessions and Facebook page. ​Andrew does not always refer to himself in the third-person. Twitter: @flipping_A_tchrInstagram: aswan802